IN THE BOOKS: Area prep football teams write final chapters
It was 98 degrees — under an ill-tempered sun — when area preps gathered 107 days ago for the opening football practice.
That was Aug. 8. It would get hotter, boiling to 104 degrees on Aug. 16.
More than a month later, the thermometer peeked back up to 99 degrees on September 21. It seemed the heat and the blinding ball in the sky would never relent.
But, nature took its course — cooler weather slowly rolled through the atmosphere.
With it, the football season aged — not like fine wine but like a treasure found, a treasure of Friday night glow, echoing cheers, the booming voices of public announcers, rugged hits given and rugged hits absorbed, and expanding memories of a time that was and never would be again.
As of last Friday, the football campaign for all area teams ended. The odyssey that had began in the belly of summer ended in arctic chill.
So, what kind of a season was it for local schools?
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BOTTOM LINE
Five of 10 area teams in the E-E coverage area advanced to the playoffs — Bartlesville (5-7), Wesleyan Christian School (10-2), the Caney Valley (Kan.) Bullpups (10-2), Barnsdall (7-4) and Pawhuska (6-5).
The only “almost” tag belonged to Copan (4-6) — a breakout season that caught fire in the heart of the Copan community.
“Better luck next year” labels went to Dewey (2-8), Nowata (2-8), the Caney Valley Trojans (1-9) and Oklahoma Union (0-10).
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HISTORIC RUNS
Bartlesville wrapped its arms around opportunity during a season of great moments and great frustrations. But, it was overall a thumbs-up judgement. With Harry Wright presiding as the first-year head coach, Bartlesville won four regular season games for the first time since 2018; the Bruins reached their fifth win in the playoffs, their most victories since 2015; Bartlesville bolted to only its second playoff road win since 1988; and the cumulative record of the Bruins’ opponents, through 12 weeks, is 69-52 (.570).
Ones the Bruins let get away were one-score losses against Collinsville, Sapulpa and Sand Springs — the latter in overtime.
New Bartlesville stars emerged, led by sophomore P.J. Wallace who finished with well more than 1,500 yards, Damien Niko, who recorded two pick-sixes, a punt return for touchdown and several receptions for scores, and a plethora of other players with huge games and huge moments.
Copan hadn’t won more than two games since 2009. It was more forlorn than that. From 2010 through 2021, the Hornets had experienced a rash of futility, including no wins, no season (2017) and two campaigns on life support saved only by mergers with Wesleyan Christian School (2018) and South Coffeyville (2019).
But, in 2020, former Copan student-athlete Marshall Foreman took charge of the program and the slow turnaround began — one win in 2020, two wins in 2021 and this season’s bust out to a near .500 record and spot in the playoffs. The good times were ignited by the arrival of the Four Hornetsmen, freshmen Kane Foreman, Teegan Caron, Shooter Brewington and Weston O’Rourke.
Copan kept its playoff hopes alive until Week 10.
The Caney Valley Pups pounced to an undisputed district crown in the Kansas AAA level and made it to the state quarterfinals for the first time in several years. Spearheading the way were 1,000-yard rushers Jackson Griffin and Astin King, and end Gavin Stimpson.
Barnsdall started out a 9-2 in district but steamrolled its next three opponents to burst into the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Sophomores Maverick Lanphear, Easton Malone and Braden Byars provided the fiery impetus.
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BAD BREAKS
The Caney Valley Trojans appeared set up for a strong campaign. They returned a fourth-year starting quarterback in Zak Wallis, enjoyed the luxury of multiple potential running backs from which to choose to broaden the offensive attack, boasted a veteran offensive line and featured savvy versatile warriors, including Wallis, Cooper Fogle and others.
But, a nightmare tragedy — the accidental death of senior player Ethan Dodson during a lake outing in late July, less than two weeks prior to the opening of practice — seemed to take a chunk out of the team’s karma.
Dodson had been a popular go-to gladiator, whose nickname “Mighty Mouse” was born of affection.
The Trojans just never seem to get it going when the season opened. Perhaps the low point was a forfeit loss to Nowata — when game officials didn’t show up for the game hosted by Caney Valley.
In addition, Wallis endured injury and a wave of other adversity cooled the Trojans’ legitimate hot expectations.
Oklahoma Union had been to the playoffs every year since Steve Trammell took charge of the program. But, in what proved to be almost a perfect storm — the huge talent departure from the previous season, a fog of inexperience, and an unusually low number of players combined to bog down the Cougars’ momentum from the previous season.
Dewey brought back an experienced quarterback in Trent Muninger and proven talent in other positions, including Colby Miller at receiver.
But, Dewey just never really found its top gear due to a variety of adverse moments, most of them not big but just enough to put a drag on the forward push.
Pawhuska didn’t lack for individual talent or leadership, but the Huskies had just enough inexperience and just enough growing pains to struggle in their first year on the Class 2A level — especially in the grueling district in which they landed. Quarterback Todd Drummond put together an amazing campaign, the Richardson brothers (Tyrel and Traven) dealt out a devastating one-two punch against opponents and tackle machine John Reed each boosted the Huskies to a winning record.
But, injuries to game-breaking players proved devastating in Pawhuska’s effort to rise to a higher level of competitiveness.
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MUSTANG POWER
Wesleyan Christian School stampeded to 10-straight wins, led by a junior threesome of Tyrel Cloud, Carson Tennison and Kael Siemers.
But, other highly-skilled components such as Archer Swisher and Mason Jenson made the Mustangs virtually unbeatable.
WCS scored at least 51 points in each of its first 11 games.
In the end, the only team that could beat the Mustangs was the Mustangs. Five turnovers and a couple of ball losses on downs proved to be crucial in the 34-22 playoff quarterfinal loss.
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WHAT’S NEXT?
A brief analysis of what one might expect for next season.
BARTLESVILLE: The Bruins return several juniors-to-be, most of them with two years of significant varsity experience. Look for something special.
DEWEY: Even though the Doggers lose an exceptional quarterback in Muninger, his younger brother Ryder is the favorite to move into the position for next season. Dewey should be better but more information is needed about returnees and incoming players.
WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: With the return of its three juniors-to-be-seniors, plus the natural physical maturity of Swisher and others, The Mustangs could make another fiery run and make a bid to get to the state final.
COPAN: With the four freshman set to be back as sophomores, along with junior-to-be Karson Woodworth, another amazing talent, Copan might climb to district power status next season.
CANEY VALLEY TROJANS: Just as in the case of Dewey, the crystal ball is a little fuzzy. But, the Trojans are set to return some skilled warriors and a big hunger after this past season’s struggles. A new quarterback will have to emerge.
PAWHUSKA: With Drummond graduating (and set to play at South Dakota), the program needs to cultivate a new field general. But, assuming all the main components return, the Huskies could be a formidable force and challenge for homefield advantage in the playoffs.
BARNSDALL: The Panthers return most their main pieces from a team that has accumulated 12 wins the past two seasons. If Barnsdall could build its confidence to be able to compete on an elite level, it’s capable of something very special.
OKLAHOMA UNION: I really like the Cougars chance to make a major bounce-back and to get back in the playoffs — if not challenge for the top of the district. Several budding talents who went under the radar are set to be back along with an increased number of athletes.
NOWATA: Coming off a 2-8 campaign and with its sophomore quarterback Treavor Emberson set to be back — along with several other vital components — the Ironmen should take another step up next season. A key is getting more students out for the team.
CANEY VALLEY PUPS: The team returns a 1,000-yard rusher and some other young talents ready to step forward as next man up. The Pups should have the right stuff to challenge for another district crown and roll into the postseason.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: A wrap-up of area high school football seasons
